Summers by the beach on the Gold Coast live long in memory of 91-year-old Bob Lloyd, of Bribie Island.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
He especially recalls one of its earliest tourist attractions, Jack Evans' Porpoise Pool (more correctly called the Dolphin Oceanarium).
It was initially located next to Evans' shark pool at Snapper Rocks. The former lifesaver charged two shillings admission.
However, the surging waves often caused difficulties, sometimes washing the sharks into the dolphin enclosure. In 1959, Evans lost all three of his dolphins in big seas.
Bob writes that the popularity of the pool prompted Evans to build a new one near the entrance to the Tweed River at Boat Harbour, later changed to Jack Evans Boat Harbour.
Bob adds: "No trip to the Gold Coast was complete in those days without visit to the Porpoise Pool and everyone did it, young and old."
Also: "In the 1950s, 'The Duchess' wandered around Greenmount and Coolangatta beaches. She was the first female I saw in a bikini, in 1953.
"And the young did the hokey pokey on the beach in their hundreds."
Did you commune with the dolphins, Jack Evans or "The Duchess", or dance on the beach in the late 1950s and '60s? Drop us a line if you did.
Do you have a favourite old photo or memory you'd like to share with readers? If so, we'd love to hear from you.
Send to Memory Lane, The Senior, PO Box 130, Wyong NSW 2259, email edit@thesenior.com.au.
Tell us the suburb or town in which you live and include a phone number in case we need more information.
